That leaves 46 items that still need to come out. The full Legislature should nix all of them before sending the budget to the governor's desk to sign. And if lawmakers fail to do that, Walker should restore his credibility on the issue by vetoing them.

"The governor campaigned on not having policy in the budget," said Sen. Rob Cowles, R-Allouez, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "What happened to that promise?"

"They pile things into the budget so they can hide them," Cowles said, "and they don't have to take responsibility for their action."

Cowles is right, and he deserves a lot of credit for calling out fellow Republicans for this sneaky tactic. Cowles' opposition means a lot more than Democratic complaints, given that the minority party allowed nearly as much policy into its budget the last time Democrats were in control.

These items should stand or fall on their own merits as individual bills. In fact, the State Journal editorial board supports some of the measures.

But none deserves a free pass.

That includes an item allowing police to collect DNA from suspects arrested for, but not convicted of, a felony.

That includes policy changes affecting special needs students who seek private school vouchers.

The state budget is a spending document. It shouldn't be camouflage for policy unrelated to spending.